TURNED THEM BACK TO THE LORD

Passage: 2 Chronicles 19:1-11

Key verse: 4

NIV

19 When Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his palace in Jerusalem, 2 Jehu(A) the seer, the son of Hanani, went out to meet him and said to the king, “Should you help the wicked(B) and love[a] those who hate the Lord?(C) Because of this, the wrath(D) of the Lord is on you. 3 There is, however, some good(E) in you, for you have rid the land of the Asherah poles(F) and have set your heart on seeking God.(G)”

Jehoshaphat Appoints Judges

4 Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 5 He appointed judges(H) in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. 6 He told them, “Consider carefully what you do,(I) because you are not judging for mere mortals(J) but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. 7 Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice(K) or partiality(L) or bribery.”

8 In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites,(M) priests(N) and heads of Israelite families to administer(O) the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. 9 He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. 10 In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord;(P) otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.

11 “Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage,(Q) and may the Lord be with those who do well.”

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Chronicles 19:2 Or and make alliances with
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jehoshaphat's Reforms

19 Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 But (A)Jehu the son of (B)Hanani (C)the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you (D)help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Because of this, (E)wrath has gone out against you from the Lord. 3 Nevertheless, (F)some good is found in you, for (G)you destroyed the Asheroth out of the land, and have (H)set your heart to seek God.”

4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to (I)the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed (J)judges in the land in all (K)the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Consider what you do, (L)for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. 7 Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for (M)there is no injustice with the Lord our God, (N)or partiality or taking bribes.”

8 Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat (O)appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, (P)to give judgment for the Lord and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem. 9 And he charged them: (Q)“Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, (R)and with your whole heart: 10 (S)whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and (T)wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. 11 And behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you (U)in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters, and the Levites will serve you as officers. (V)Deal courageously, and may the Lord be with the upright!”[a]

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Chronicles 19:11 Hebrew the good
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

By God’s mercy, Jehoshaphat returned safely to his palace. Jehu the seer rebuked Jehoshaphat. He rebuked him for helping and loving wicked Ahab and his household. His intermarriage with Ahab’s family would be a snare for his descendants.

Then, as he had done earlier with his officials, Jehoshaphat himself went out from Beersheba to Ephraim to turn the people back to God. He must have been a great Bible teacher. Jehoshaphat really loved God. He set up judges in each city and encouraged them to judge before God. In this way, he wanted to give correct judgement, and at the same time reveal God, who is just and has no partiality.

Additionally, Jehoshaphat appointed Levites, priests, and heads of the families to judge and settle disputes with the fear of God. Jehoshaphat tried his best to establish justice and order. He wanted the people to return to God and live in peace through God’s justice. Through this, Jehoshaphat wanted to show who God is and show the love of God. When God’s justice is restored and our relationship with God is restored, we can live in true peace and freedom.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your love and justice in our lives.

One Word: Return to God, who is full of love and full of justice